DarkSky Oregon
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Part 4: Where in Oregon are the clearest – least cloudy – night skies?
DarkSky Oregon and volunteers support a network of Sky Quality Meters across the state which continuously record how bright and how dark is the night sky overhead. The data also tell us which areas have the clearest night skies – the least cloudy – and which are most cloudy and in between too.
This map of Oregon shows the locations of our Sky Quality Meters as blue circles. Large circles show the least cloudy measurement sites, which are east and south of the Cascade Mountains. Smaller blue circles mark sites which are more cloudy at night, mostly along the coast and in the Willamette Valley.
The bar chart below shows the data that was used to size the blue circles in the map. Sites on the left side of the bar chart are least cloudy. Those toward the right side of the bar chart are progressively more cloudy at night.
The chart above shows the percentage of SQM data samples that were recorded at each site under clear (not cloudy) conditions, when the sun was at least 18 degrees below the horizon, and the moon at least 10 degrees below the horizon. The SQM sites that recorded the highest percentage of clear night samples are on the left and sorted toward the right to more cloudy conditions.
Also of interest, the Sky Quality Meter data allow a breakdown of the percentage of clear samples by month of the year, as shown in the next chart. Each bar in the chart below shows the percentage of samples on moonless nights by month, which were cloud free.
For those who enjoy a data heavy read, the table below shows the percentage of clear night SQM data samples by month.
The first data column is color-coded, with the SQM sites that recorded the highest percentage of clear night samples at the top, in green color.
The middle data columns show the distribution of clear night samples across months of the year. All of those data columns are color-coded together, so that the green blocks identify the SQM sites and months during which the highest percentage of clear night data was recorded.
The rightmost column shows the total number of clear night samples recorded to date at each site. This column is color coded to show which sites have limited data to date because they are relatively new - the red blocks. Results for the blocks on the red end of the color scale are likely to change as more data is acquired.
White blocks represent no data acquired at those sites during those months so far.
All samples were recorded on a 5-minute cadence. Samples are considered cloud free if the 45-minute period before and after the sample showed minimal variation in brightness. (See Appendix B of the related Technical Report)
Support the effort to reduce light pollution.
Contact us at: hello@darkskyoregon.org
Key Results from the Oregon SQM Network:
IDA Oregon Announces Rebranding as DarkSky Oregon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IDA Oregon Announces Rebranding as DarkSky Oregon
OREGON, USA - The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) Oregon Chapter is pleased to announce its rebranding to DarkSky Oregon.
The change reflects the rebranding of International Dark-Sky Association’s (IDA) to DarkSky International and supports DarkSky Oregon becoming its own 501c3 legal entity. The rebranding serves to simplify and modernize our name and logo.
DarkSky Oregon has been dedicated to protecting Oregon's nighttime environment for over four years. We work with communities, parks, businesses, and individuals to promote responsible outdoor lighting. We are helping multiple communities and parks to attain dark sky certification in support of the economic benefits of astrotourism while preserving starry skies. We run a state-wide project to measure the darkness of our night skies and track change over time. We have helped to preserve some of the darkest skies in the United States, raised awareness of the impacts of overly-bright night skies on people and the wild ecosystem and helped to identify the cultural and economic benefits of dark skies in Oregon.
"We are excited to unveil our new brand as DarkSky Oregon," said Bill Kowalik, Chairperson. "Our new name better reflects our mission to protect and preserve Oregon's dark skies for the benefit of all. We look forward to continuing our work with people and organizations across the state to promote responsible outdoor lighting and protect our nighttime environment."
DarkSky Oregon will continue to provide educational outreach and resources to protect the night sky. For more information about DarkSky Oregon and its ongoing projects, please visit our new website at www.darkskyoregon.org.
Contact:
DarkSky Oregon
hello@darkskyoregon.org
PBS: The Movement to Save Our Night Skies
From PBS Terra
For most of human history, darkness meant danger. Humans sought out light to stay safe and extend our active hours. Centuries later, we’ve succeeded so well in our illumination efforts, we have literally dimmed the stars. Join host Baratunde Thurston in exploring one small town’s mission to become a Dark Sky Community and reclaim the darkness of night. Follow researchers in Western Colorado to discover how the darkness of night is not just important to experience the wonders of the cosmos, it’s vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems—and saving the epic migrations of America’s birds.
Ellen Waterston reading her poem “Dark Sky Dance” with Hunter Noack on piano
Recording of the original performance at IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™ concert at Prineville Reservoir State Park, with permissions.
Learn more about IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™:
www.inalandscape.org | Ticket info here.
Learn more about writer and poet Ellen Waterston:
www.ellenwaterston.com and www.writingranch.com
